The Constitution of India
Article 371G
Special provision with respect to the State of Mizoram
Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, —
(a) no Act of Parliament in respect of —
(i) religious or social practices of the Mizos,
(ii) Mizo customary law and procedure,
(iii) administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Mizo customary law,
(iv) ownership and transfer of land,
shall apply to the State of Mizoram unless the Legislative Assembly of the State of Mizoram by a resolution so decides:
Provided that nothing in this clause shall apply to any Central Act in force in the Union territory of Mizoram immediately before the commencement of the Constitution (Fifty-third Amendment) Act, 1986;
(b) the Legislative Assembly of the State of Mizoram shall consist of not less than forty members.
Why this exists
Mizoram's path to statehood grew out of the Mizo Accord of 1986, which ended years of insurgency led by the Mizo National Front. As part of that peace settlement, the Constitution (Fifty-third Amendment) Act, 1986 inserted Article 371G to reassure the Mizo people that their distinct customs, traditional justice system, and control over land would be protected from unilateral central lawmaking, similar to protections given earlier to Nagaland under Article 371A. It reflects India's broader approach of accommodating tribal and regional identity through asymmetric federalism.
Common misconceptions
- Myth: Article 371G means no Central law can ever apply to Mizoram.
Fact: It only restricts four specific subjects (religious/social practices, customary law, customary justice, and land); other Central laws apply normally, and even these four can apply if Mizoram's Assembly agrees. - Myth: This provision blocks all pre-1986 Central laws too.
Fact: The proviso specifically preserves Central laws that were already in force in the Union territory of Mizoram before the 1986 amendment — those continue without needing Assembly approval.